View Full Version : Sky Broadband
smiffy333
09-09-2006, 5:07 PM
Not sure where to post this.....
Got the confirmation lettersaying I can have Sky broadband, just wondered if anybody out there has got it and if it's any good!
Also read somewhere that they aren't providing smtp server's for outgoing mail which I presume means you can't use Outlook.
MrsSigns
09-09-2006, 5:19 PM
Hi,
We are on the list for Sky Max which we are told will be nearer to Christmas for our area, I would be interested to hear, also, of anyone who has Sky broadband of any type already and if it is ok.
they aren't providing smtp server's for outgoing mail which I presume means you can't use Outlook.
Get yourself a gmail/googlemail account and configure it for POP. Simple, reliable, FREE and network-agnostic so if Sky turns out to be rubbish you can change ISP and not worry about your email address.
smiffy333
09-09-2006, 6:01 PM
Cheers guys just found a load of posts on the Sky forum so I'll check there.
Apparently, the actual servers for Sky BB are in Holland, and as such you can't use the interactive features of the BBC.
M-C-P-M
09-09-2006, 8:19 PM
I'm yet to find anyone who can actually get it! I'm stuck with Eclipse metered rubbish i'm on the up to 8mb, with bulldog i was on 8mb but the best i got was 7mb with Eclipse i'm lucky if i get 2mb come on Sky pull your finger out!
I'll have it within the week, here's hoping it can match their promises. As Smiffy notes, there's quite a big thread on it in the Sky forum.
:) Mylo
Battle
09-09-2006, 9:49 PM
Got my package today - just got to wait for BT to get their fingers out and swap over my service- ill updated when its live and i find out what sort of speeds im getting
TrevorG
09-09-2006, 10:08 PM
My dad got his router this week and I set it up for him today.
I can confirm that SMTP does work.
I've just checked my own email and the test I sent using Outlook arrived OK.
Trevor
Uridium
09-09-2006, 10:09 PM
Had the Router etc.. for a week or so, just waiting for the ISP switch over on my BT line due on 12/9
johnscarlet
10-09-2006, 8:53 AM
Had it for about a fortnight now , Nothing I haven't been able to do , that I couldn't with NTL . The speed could be faster , but thats probably more to do with my distance from the exchange than SKY . If it doesnt improve ,I'll down grade from MAX when I can , But as I'm saving £25 a month , I can afford to wait and see
JOhn
Joe90sDad
10-09-2006, 10:15 PM
I've had sky broadband for almost 2 weeks now but yet to check the d/l speeds. I'm still using my pipex connection on my network and the sky was just because I already pay sky shedloads. Seems to work fine though.
Even if it's okay now will it still be when they've got x million subscribers? We'll see.
Toasty
11-09-2006, 8:28 AM
Could you tell me if you get webspace for homepages etc with sky broadband? If so could you tell me the details?
Cheers..
Are you tied to using the router that Sky provide, as i've seen by other people elsewhere?
Joe90sDad
11-09-2006, 10:49 AM
Could you tell me if you get webspace for homepages etc with sky broadband? If so could you tell me the details?
Cheers..
There are so many companies online begging you to use their webspace for free, I wouldn't worry about it.
Singh400
11-09-2006, 10:55 AM
What are the speeds like? Don't supose you could do a speedtest (http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk) could ya?
I'm so close to moving, but I'm gonna wait a bit and see how everything pans out.
Joe90sDad
11-09-2006, 11:17 AM
What are the speeds like? Don't supose you could do a speedtest (http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk) could ya?
I'm so close to moving, but I'm gonna wait a bit and see how everything pans out.
On my 2mb standard system I've clocked the following from that test:
D/L: 1719 kbps
U/L: 328 kbps
Toasty
11-09-2006, 11:37 AM
There are so many companies online begging you to use their webspace for free, I wouldn't worry about it.
I assume thats a no then ;)
Uridium
11-09-2006, 11:42 AM
What are the speeds like? Don't supose you could do a speedtest (http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk) could ya?
I'm so close to moving, but I'm gonna wait a bit and see how everything pans out.
I thought you said in a recent post you'd signed up with BT for the free HomeHub?
johnscarlet
11-09-2006, 11:46 AM
What are the speeds like? Don't supose you could do a speedtest (http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk) could ya?
I'm so close to moving, but I'm gonna wait a bit and see how everything pans out.
2288 down 578up and I'm on max :eek: . Not enough , but I'm prepared to wait to see if there is any improvement
John
Joe90sDad
11-09-2006, 11:50 AM
I assume thats a no then ;)
Having flicked through the lit you do get some kind of 'easy-upload' website.
colinwheeler
11-09-2006, 12:07 PM
What are the speeds like? Don't supose you could do a speedtest (http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk) could ya?
I'm so close to moving, but I'm gonna wait a bit and see how everything pans out.
I don't believe that test is very accurate. I have tested it on a number of different situations and it seems to dependent on time of day, ISP you are connected to and a load of other factors as well as the fact that it seems to completely mess up cell based wireless speeds.
Singh400
11-09-2006, 12:48 PM
I thought you said in a recent post you'd signed up with BT for the free HomeHub?I've been with BT since the beginning - back when they had 512kbps broadband (if you can call it that lol)
On my 2mb standard system I've clocked the following from that test:
D/L: 1719 kbps
U/L: 328 kbpsThanks, not bad for 2mb :thumbsup:
2288 down 578up and I'm on max :eek: . Not enough , but I'm prepared to wait to see if there is any improvement
JohnThanks, I'm very impressed with the upload I max out at 373kbps with BT.
I don't believe that test is very accurate. I have tested it on a number of different situations and it seems to dependent on time of day, ISP you are connected to and a load of other factors as well as the fact that it seems to completely mess up cell based wireless speeds.The test is accurate, it will give you a good reflection on load is put on your local exchange, of course its going to vary. The speeds aren't going to stay within a specific ballpark. Especially if your on RADSL (like me) During the hours when school kids go on (3.30 - 8.00) my internet is slower than normal (round about 4mb) and when the kids go off to bed the speed springs back up again to its normal 6mb :grin:
colinwheeler
11-09-2006, 12:56 PM
The test is accurate, it will give you a good reflection on load is put on your local exchange, of course its going to vary.
The test may be accurate for you over your single link. It is not a good comparison tool to check out different links and different types of links. I have tested it will a variety of 4 or 5 different types of connectivity now and it has delivered results that are inconsistent with the reality of those links.
Singh400
11-09-2006, 1:13 PM
The test may be accurate for you over your single link. It is not a good comparison tool to check out different links and different types of links. I have tested it will a variety of 4 or 5 different types of connectivity now and it has delivered results that are inconsistent with the reality of those links.
Like I said, it depends on alot more like:
The quality of your line
The type of your line
The distance from your local exchange to your PC
The network load at the time of the speedtest.
Aswell as many other things such as noise on the line, the db etc etc.
Guess we'll agree to disagree ;)
colinwheeler
11-09-2006, 1:20 PM
Yup, add also:
- The load at the peering centre you ISP connect to.
- The amount of hops inbetween the server it connects to and your PC.
- The load on the server itself.
- The load on all network components between your ISP and the server, including at least 2 or 3 other ISPs, carriers and peering centres.
- And a partridge in a pear tree.
Not an accurate test. I don't disagree that it is useful for benchmarking your line if you do lots of testing and it will give you the upper limit. What I am saying is that people should not take the answers that it is providing as gospel and don't use it to go....oh my new line is so much.....worse or better than my old one.
If gauging network speeds and efficiencies was that easy, a lot of the network specialists that I use would be out of work :)
johnscarlet
11-09-2006, 2:06 PM
I also meant to say that the router has a display (when you log onto it) for current speeds aswell
Thats showing 2720 u and 768 u
John
Singh400
11-09-2006, 7:12 PM
I also meant to say that the router has a display (when you log onto it) for current speeds aswell
Thats showing 2720 u and 768 u
John
Yeah, that'll be your sync speeds.